08/22/2017

In today’s high-deductible health plan (HDHP) marketplace, employees are expected to pay a growing share of out-of-pocket expenses. This can encourage them to be better health care consumers, but can also lead to greater financial stress when they face unexpected health expenses. Employers can help curb this stress at no cost to themselves by offering voluntary benefits.
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08/08/2017

The removal of annual and lifetime dollar caps from group health plans makes it difficult to predict claims costs with any accuracy. Catastrophic claims have become more frequent and dollar amounts continue to rise...
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07/18/2017

A cold or flu can strike anywhere and anytime—whether you’re at work, on a business trip or lounging on the beach. And what if you need medical help after normal business hours? With Select Benefits, valuable health care may be at your fingertips.
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07/04/2017

You’re probably well-versed in evidence of insurability (EOI), but your clients and their employees may have questions. That’s why we’ve compiled some frequently asked questions to help explain why this application is used to determine eligibility for certain types and amounts of coverage.
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06/27/2017

It’s no secret that many groups are turning to high-deductible medical plans as a way to combat rising health care costs. But while such plans may help both employers and employees achieve more affordable premiums, they can leave employees and their families vulnerable to significant out-of-pocket costs when things like accidents or serious illnesses occur. One solution? GapAssist supplemental coverage.
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06/20/2017

We can’t predict where life is going to take us. An injury or illness could send an otherwise active person out on disability leave for an indefinite period of time. Or the loss of a loved one may leave a family struggling to cope with the emotional and financial stress of rebuilding their lives. That’s why employees truly appreciate the network of professional support offered with Symetra group life and disability income insurance.
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06/13/2017

With new entrants to the stop loss market and medical costs on the rise, it’s important to research potential carriers before making a recommendation. Here are five questions to ask to help ensure your clients’ self-funded plans are properly protected.
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06/06/2017

As health insurance premiums continue to rise, you may have clients that could benefit from the added flexibility and cost-savings associated with self-funding their major medical plan. But with these benefits comes the added risk of high-cost and catastrophic claims. Fortunately, medical stop loss can help.
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05/31/2017

Group life insurance is one of the simplest and most accessible financial benefits available. In an increasingly complex financial world, it is a benefit that is easy to understand and appreciate.
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05/23/2017

The fixed-payment medical benefits of a Select Benefits plan help employers offer valued coverage to their group. But not all benefits can be measured in dollars and cents. Value-add programs can enhance any Select Benefits plan by providing additional services to employees and their families.
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05/16/2017

Employers who self-fund their employees’ medical coverage enjoy flexibility and cost-savings that fully insured coverage may not provide, but they must be prepared for sometimes shockingly large claims. These employers typically rely on medical stop loss insurance to help them cover claims that are higher than expected. But stop loss is a reimbursement, and the employers must make the initial claims payments themselves.
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05/01/2017

On January 20, 2017, the Office of Chief Counsel of the IRS issued a field assistance memorandum (Memo) addressing the tax treatment of fixed indemnity health plans. In March, we sent our brokers and policyholders this advisory summarizing Symetra’s position with respect to the impact of the Memo.
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04/25/2017

High-deductible health plans (HDHP) are quickly becoming standard operating procedure for a lot of employer-sponsored plans. But for many employees, meeting these high deductibles can be a challenge.
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04/04/2017

In today’s health care environment, more employers are exploring the flexibility and cost-savings resulting from self-funding their employee health care plans. Medical stop loss insurance helps protect these employers from the financial risk of catastrophic claims, but in order to secure the stop loss coverage that best fits a company’s needs
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03/28/2017

After an accident, unexpected medical costs can make a bad situation even more stressful. Group accident coverage can help relieve some of the financial pressure for employees and their families.
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03/21/2017

Are your clients looking for a new way to explain MEC-Select to their employees? If so, we’ve got you covered. Our new video is a powerful education tool that your clients can use to help their employees understand the coverage.
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03/14/2017

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides valuable job protection for employees, but its growing use presents a challenge for businesses in a world where doing more with less is standard operating procedure.
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03/07/2017

Looking for ways to help your clients close the coverage gap for employees? Select Benefits fixed-payment medical insurance can be customized to help cover some of the out-of-pocket costs that occur before benefits in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) begin—reducing immediate out-of-pocket costs for services like doctor visits, hospital inpatient admission and more.
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02/28/2017

Our fixed-payment medical customers tell us that one of the reasons they renew with us year-after-year is the responsive and personal service they receive from Symetra Select Benefits (formerly Select Benefit Administrators).
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02/22/2017

There is no one-size-fits-all definition of “disability.” Because the scope, severity and duration of employees’ conditions vary, insurers look at several components when determining whether an individual is disabled according to the terms of a group contract. Understanding each of these components can be useful when discussing coverage with your benefits broker, provider and employees.
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02/07/2017

Medical emergencies can happen to anyone—at any time. While medical and disability insurance help defray the cost of care and potential loss of income, additional out-of-pocket costs can add financial pressure to an already difficult situation.
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01/10/2017

As a multiline carrier, our experienced, knowledgeable team is committed to delivering customer-focused benefits solutions that meet your client’s budget and coverage goals. In 2017, our blog will share how our products, service and expertise can help with employer challenges like:
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12/21/2016

As the end of the year approaches, I want to thank you for your business and your trust in Symetra. The last several years have been challenging for our industry as we’ve worked through the complexities of health care reform to provide meaningful and valuable solutions for your clients. With the 2016 election now complete, it seems like we all have more questions than answers about what comes next.
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12/06/2016

MEC plans are becoming increasingly common as employers adapt to the rules and requirements of the ACA. While these preventive-care-only plans generally avoid covering high-cost, catastrophic medical conditions, high usage of the plan by employees can quickly deplete the health care budgets of unprepared employers.
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11/08/2016

As a benefits professional, you’re probably well-versed in medical stop loss insurance. But how do you explain how it works to your clients? For groups that are new to self-funding, it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, our new video has you covered.
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